Transformation of a Chair

A couple of months ago I was up in my Grammy's attic which is chalk full of furniture, artwork, and things from the past.  My Grandparents are at that point in their life where they are trying to de-clutter, so every time we go up they make us take something home from the attic.  I'm always on the lookout for interesting furniture that needs a little love and a makeover.   This was the perfect chair.

Once I brought it home, the chair continued to sit in my basement for a couple more months.  As it normally goes, I was waiting for the perfect moment with the perfect idea to start the project.  I got the vision right before our trip out to Wisconsin, so I had plenty of time to plan it out and let it simmer.  I got pretty antsy having to wait until I got home, usually when I get an idea I start it right away (I'm not very patient) so this was good for me.  But as soon as I got home the sanders came out and deconstruction began.

As you can see this is a pretty sturdy chair with minimal damage to the frame.  It just needed refinishing to the arms and new cushions and upholstery.

My father, who is my refinishing expert, helped me sand down the arms.  From sanding the stain off and exposing the natural wood, we discovered that this chair was made of maple.  I then went to match the stain.  On my first try it was a perfect match.  A couple layers of varnish and it was good as new.

I then practiced my cushion making and deciding on the perfect color combination.  I love the look of the cream against the wood but I did not have enough of the fabric to cover the entire cushions.  I went back to the store to find that same fabric but it was not there.  I instead came back with this rusty brown fabric that I absolutely love.  Now I had the dilemma of which fabric to use.  I settled on using both.

My next dilemma was the piping.  As you saw in earlier posts I experimented with natural dyes.  Onion skin vs rust.  The both look very nice, so it now depended on the look I wanted to achieve.

The final product.  I am very pleased with how this chair turned out, it was exactly how I envisioned. This was my first attempt at cushion upholstery and it was a huge success!  As you can see I went with the onion skin piping which really makes the chair pop!

If you flip the cushions over the rusty color is exposed.  A reversible cushion was created out of necessity but turned into something pretty cool.

This was a great project that didn't take too long to complete.  I can't wait to put this in my new apartment, it will fit in perfectly.  When each element is thought out, planned and created it is easy for everything to come together nicely.  (More on the apartment design to come!)

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

The Art of the Onion Skin Dye

It's been a while since I've done some hand dyeing, the last time was in the fall during my weaving class.  I had learned about natural dyes and instantly fell in love.  When I found out that something as simple and readily available as onion skins made a natural dye, I began collecting them immediately!  It took a couple months and a lot of cooking with onions (good thing I love onions and most of my recipes start with an onion) and I finally had a collection.  Once I had enough, they just sat there.  I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use this dye, as it took me so long to collect.

In the past couple weeks I have been in full design mode for my new apartment down in Savannah.  For it to be the perfect space it has to be well thought out and designed but more to come on that later.  As a result of moving I have been cleaning out and going through all of my stuff in my current home.  I came across tons of fabric that I had bought in the past (I'm a fabric hoarder) and decided to learn how to properly make a pillow to finally use some of that fabric.  I couldn't find the perfect color piping so I decided to dye it instead.  Since I was going to go through the whole process of dyeing, I wasn't just going to dye some strands of piping, so I added a couple yards of fabric to see what happened.  I'm so glad I did because this is what came out and I can't wait to turn them into more pillows!

I started with a couple bags of onion skins.

Filled a pot with water, added the skins and simmered it down.

I added some alum, the binder, and it boiled down for about an hour.

I added the fabric and let it simmer for about another hour.  I wanted the dye to really soak in and become a rich hue.

I also had another packet of dye laying around, so I decided to do another dye bath.  This time it was an acid dye so a slightly different process.

It started with water, dye and a splash of vinegar.  Throw in the fabric and let it simmer and soak in.

I left it in until it got rich and saturated.

This is the final product.  I'm very happy with the results and very surprised of the rich golden hue that the onions produced.  I cannot wait to turn these into pillows, stay tuned!  

Be Inspired. Be Bold. Be Natural.

peace&love

Rebecca

My Head in the Wisconsin Clouds

On this relaxing vacation we are up in Wisconsin.  It's only our second day here and each night we've experienced some beautiful skies.  Up here everything is vast and open, the sky opens up exposing a perfect canvas from horizon to horizon.  Clouds roll out after the quick storm leaving a perfect puffy palette for the setting sun to paint it's beautiful glowing colors.

The first night here was also the super moon.  I didn't get great pictures as it's more the experience and the picture is just a reminder of that moment. The moon was large and lit up the rolling hills beneath.

Clouds on the second night added great drama and cast shadows and rays as the sun set behind the barn.  A light turquoise sky burst into bright oranges and yellow, making it hard to look away.

As beautiful as the skies are and as much as you want to capture these moments you have to remember to put down the camera, or phone, every once in a while and experience theses skies for their true color. No camera can completely capture the full beauty and amazement, they only provide reminders.  So sit, relax and enjoy. Be in that moment and watch this ephemral beauty.  

Be Bold. be Inspired. 

peace&love

Rebecca

Jerk Pit.. Transformation

I had the great opportunity to design and paint for the Jerk Pit.  Another great collaboration with the designers Erica Riggio and Angela Justice, of the new Green Owl Design, came an exciting new design plan.  They came in with the design plan of covering the bright neon walls with a neutral beige and deep turquoise ceiling.  It was my job to fill the walls with bold patterns reminiscent of Jamaica.  I drew inspiration from native plants, the national bird and the beautiful scenery of palms and crystal blue water.  See the transformation below.

The national bird with the flag on its chest.  The ginger flower creates a bold pattern and vibrant colors to fill the wall.

Wainscoting stained a beautiful medium wood tome lays the perfect base for the tropical beach scene above.

The beach scene continues in the main room where palms are scattered throughout the room.  The geometric ocean line wraps around the room.

Words of the native tongue greet you in the entryway and into the space.

The ackee, the national fruit of Jamaica.

The Jamaican flag surrounded by bamboo stalks line the bar front.

This was an exciting project to work on, being able to use bold colors and dramatic patterns.  And it didn't hurt that I was smelling the delicious Jamaican food cooking throughout!

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

My Thoughts.. Above the Clouds

Above the clouds...

…is where I belong.  You are given this one portal to this whole different world, a different view, a different perspective.  I get my best ideas and am the most creative up here, above the clouds.  Tonight I watched he sunset from above the clouds.  I see rivers winding in the craziest patterns.  The sky goes from a bright glow that's hard to stare at and orange glow contrasted with the grayish blue that is the clouds and the ground blending together.  Slowly the orange gets darker and is enveloped by the darkness of clouds and land coming together.

It is now that the patterns and textures of the land are enriched.  Water masses are highlighted.  Clouds gain texture and value.  Soon lights will turn on and twinkle below. Masses of population will become apparent and traffic patterns emerge.

When the sun is out it seems purely about the light and the clouds but when that is removed it becomes more about the civilization below, that is consequently asleep.  But their mark on the world is still apparent.  Light is the all apparent up here, it dictates what we see.  Whether it is blinding us above the clouds or illuminating the patterns of population below.

My mind always wanders when I'm up here.  Maybe because it's the last place to completely disconnect, even though that is changing.  All I have is music and a free mind.  I've already worried and made my lists and now that that's out there's nothing else I can do or worth worrying about so my mind is free to wander.  And this is where I've wandered. Purely comes out  of what I am seeing and experiencing, up here, above the clouds

I always wounded if other people think these same things up here. Do they not wander to the same place while looking at the same clouds?  Every time I'm up here (I love to travel and fly) I start off at the same point of departure but every time I seem to drift to different places.

Its amazing what starring at slowly ephemeral nature can do for creativity and mind wandering. I find so much peace in starring off into space at the ocean or the mountains or my garden, waiting for something to happen, but also allowing my mind to disconnect and then the purest of thoughts and inspirations arising to the top.  Sometimes it only takes a couple minutes, other times I just stare in silence for hours.  It's good for the soul.  Be in the moment.  Trying to find enlightenment.  Buddhist thought arising again.

It seems after all this writing that I should be a writer but I'm so much more of an artist. The artist that I interned from once asked me if I ever wrote, like in a journal etc.  I haven't before but at that moment I started.  It's amazing the simple exercise of writing your thoughts and ideas does to free up your mind for more creativity and inspirations.  Get one idea out to make room for another.  I now find myself writing all the time, in journals above the clouds, frantically taking notes in classes.  The act of writing connects something in my brain and allows creativity to ignite.  Who knew that art could come out of words?  Most of my sketchbooks are written descriptions of what I want to create with small sketches.  I'm using both sides of the brain to create, engineer meets artist.

Clouds at night are like negatives of themselves against he lighter sky. The sky is still slightly illuminated from the setting sun, a light blue towards the horizon, and the clouds are a gap dark navy grey.

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca